Apparently Russia defended Trump, among other heads of state, to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon after they were criticized harshly by a U.N. high commissioner for human rights, apparently even likening them to the Islamic State:
UPDATE: #Russia confirms it complained in defense of #Trump to UN Secretary General https://t.co/puS2ORk5F3
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) October 7, 2016
AP – Russia lodged a formal complaint last month with the United Nations over a top U.N. official’s condemnations of Donald Trump and some European politicians, an intervention that underscores the unusual links between the Republican presidential nominee and the Kremlin.
There is no evidence Trump sought Russia’s assistance, or was even aware of the criticism by Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights.
Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, told The Associated Press on Friday that he complained to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about Zeid’s remarks.
Three diplomats familiar with the conversation said the complaint occurred in a private meeting on Sept. 13. Churkin angrily protested a pair of speeches by Zeid that denounced “demagogues” and specifically targeted Trump and several populist leaders in Europe, even likening their tactics to Islamic State propaganda.
“Prince Zeid is overstepping his limits from time to time and we’re unhappy about it,” Churkin said Friday. “He criticized a number of heads of state, government. He should stick to his file, which is important enough.”
A spokesman for Russia’s U.N. mission said he couldn’t discuss the matter.
“We don’t comment on meetings with ambassadors,” U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said.
Three diplomats, including two U.N. officials who were familiar with the meeting between Churkin and Ban, said that the Russian complained “virulently” to Ban about Zeid’s Cleveland speech and one in Europe in September.
A senior U.N. diplomat familiar with the discussion said Churkin specifically “condemned the fact that Zeid mentioned Trump.”
The diplomats weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing possible diplomatic repercussions from Russia, a powerful, permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.
The Kremlin has said it has no position on the U.S. election.
I don’t know what this means, if anything, so take it for what it’s worth to you.